Luggage carrier for automobiles



C. T. HATCH, JR

LUGGAGE CARRIER FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Jan. 8, 1923 {-2 [-0 .12 (0 13 I31 1 15 l 15% (2 -'l 7 1I'\ 17 gmven vroz rat-miss Feb. 3, 1925.

UNITED STATES @FIE.

FATE

CHARLES THATCHEB HATCH, 51%., OLE ALBION, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO UNIONSTEEL PRODUCTS COMPANY, LTD., OF ALBION, MICHIGAN.

LUGGAGE CARRIER FOR AUTODIOBILES.

Application filed January 8, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES THA'ICHER HATCH, J12, citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Albion, county of Calhoun, State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Luggage Carriers forAutomobiles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in luggage carriers forautomobiles.

The main object of the invention is to provide an improved collapsibleluggage carrier adapted for attachment to the running board of anautomobile which may be collapsed upon the running board when not inuse.

A further object is to provide an improved collapsible luggage carrierof the class described which is very compact when collapsed, iscomparatively light in weight and strong and durable when erected.

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, willdefinitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and meansdescribed in the following specification. The invention is clearlydefinedand pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of thisapplication, in which:

Fig. I is an inside elevation of my improved luggage carrier in itscollapsed form, its extended position being indicated by dotted lines.

Fig. II is an end elevation, the carrier being shown in erected positionupon a sup port such as the running board of an automobile.

Fig. III is an enlarged fragmentary detail end elevation, the carrierbeing shown in erected position by full lines and in collapsed positionby dotted lines.

Fig. IV is a fragmentary end elevation showing an article, indicated bydotted lines, being strapped to the carrier.

In the drawings similar reference characters refer to similar partsthroughout the several views.

-Referring to the drawings, I provide a pair of uprights 1 which are ofchannel cross section and disposed with their channels facing outwardly.The supporting clamps 2 are of a character adapted to be Serial No.611,348.

engaged with the running board of an automobile, as 3. These clamps haveup wardly projecting spaced ears d between which the hinge members 5 arepivoted. These hinge members have shank portions disposed in thechannels of the uprights and secured thereto by the pivots 6. Theuprights have longitudinal slots '2' at their upper ends.

I provide a lazy tongs structure made up of a plurality of bars 8 whichare connected at their crossing points, as 9, and at their ends, as at10. The upwardly directed outer or end bars 11 have outwardly curvedupper ends 12 provided with curved slots 13. The lower ends of thedownwardly directed end or outer bars are pivoted at 14 to the brackfets15 projecting inwardly from the lower ends of the uprights. Slides 16are secured to the uprights by means of the pins 17 engaging the slots7. These slides carry pins 18 which engage the slots 13 in the bars 11.This arrangement makes it possible to use relatively short uprights,thereby permitting the structure to be folded when extended upon therunning board of an average width.

I also preferably provide an intermediate clamp 2 to which one of theintermediate bars is connected by the hinge member 19. This provides avery secure support for the carrier upon the running board and at thesame time permits its being collapsed, as stated.

If desired, the article to be carried, as indicated at 20, may besecured to the uprights by a strap 21 arranged through the slots 7. Theuprights are preferably provided with arms 22 which are pivoted theretoat 23 to be collapsed against the inner side of the arms or to beextended to a horizontal position, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig.II.

These arms collapse within the plane of the uprights and do not ina-nywise interfere with the structure being collapsed flat upon therunning board.

My improved carrier is simple and economical in its parts and at thesame time is very strong and rigid.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a folding luggage carrier, the combination with clamps adapted tobe engaged with the running board of an automobile,

uprights of channel cross section mounted on said clamps, said uprightsbeing arranged with their channels facing outwardly and havinglongitudinal slots at their upper ends, a plurality of bars disposed andpivotally connected to provide alazy tongs structure, the upper ends ofthe upwardly projecting end bars being outwardly curved and havingcurved slots therein, inwardly projecting brackets disposed at the lowerends of the uprights and provided with pins engaging the lower ends ofthe downwardly projecting end bars, and inwardly projecting slidesslidably engaging said slots in said uprights and provided with pinsengaging said curve-d slots in the upper ends of said end bars.

2. In a "folding luggage carrier, the combination with clamps adapted tobe engaged with the running board of an automobile, uprights havinglongitudinal slots at their upper ends, a plurality of hers dispose-dand pivotally connected to provide a lazy tongs structure, the upperends of tue upwardly projecting end bars being outwardly curved andhaving curved slots therein, inwardly projecting brackets disposed atthe lower ends of the uprights andprovidedwith pins engaging the lowerends otthe downward ly projecting end bars, and inwardly projectingslides slidably engaging said slots in said uprights and provided withpins engaging said curved slots in the upper ends of said endb ars, saiduprights being pivotally mounted on said clamps so that the carrier maybe collapsed upon the running board upon which thecarrier is mounted.

3. In a folding luggage carrier, the combination with clainps'adapted tobe engaged with the running board of an automobile, uprights having'longitudinal slots at their upper ends, a plurality of bar' disposedand pivotally connected to provide a lazy tongs structure, the upperends of the upwardly projecting end bars being outwardly curvedandhaving curved slots the-rein, inwardly projecting brackets disposedat the lower ends of the uprights and provided with pins engagingthelower ends of the downwardly projecting end bars, and inwardlyprojecting slides sli-dably engaging said; slots in said uprights andprovided with pins engaging said curvedslots in the upper ends of saidend bars.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

CHARLES THATCHER HATCH, Jr. [L. s.]

